Gift-Giving Extravaganza 2021: Cupcakeyyy

Prompt: Jily

Word Count: 1814

Lily shifted onto her side, wrapping an arm around the large body pillow that lay beside her, but she still wasn't comfortable. Even though Lily had charmed the pillow to feel exactly like James, it just didn't feel right.

She groaned. Rolling onto her front, she reached her hand up to push her hair away from her face. She scowled at the pillow and smacked the spot which would have been James' shoulder—if he'd been there, that is. "I hate you," she grumbled, glaring at the pillow.

"You're bonkers," Sirius said, leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest, one eyebrow raised. "You're talking to a pillow, for Merlin's sake. Just go to sleep already. I'm tired of watching over you. I'm not getting paid for this, you know."

Lily's lower lip jutted out in a pout, and she pushed herself up. "I can't, Sirius. James is somewhere out there fighting for his life, and you expect me to go to sleep? Would you be able to sleep if it were Remus out there?" she challenged.

Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his wavy hair. "Good point, Evans. But still, you keep tossing and turning, and it's putting me on edge. If you can't sleep, then do something productive. Go make me a sandwich."

"How sexist of you, Sirius Black," Lily said with a mock glare. She knew he was just trying to distract her from James' absence, but she couldn't play along.

The war was getting closer and closer to them every day, and the Aurors were doing their best to restrict the Death Eaters' movements. Despite their whole-hearted attempts, they were unable to save everyone.

As an Auror, James was often out on dangerous missions, and although he claimed he took all necessary precautions, Lily still feared for his life. It was natural for her to worry; after all, she loved him and didn't want anything bad to happen to him.

"Stop thinking about Prongs," Sirius said, pulling her out of her spiralling thoughts. "He's a strong bloke, he can handle himself."

"I know he can handle himself, but that doesn't mean I can stop worrying," Lily argued, biting her lip nervously. "Could you… uh…"

"Except for singing you a lullaby, I'll do everything else," Sirius said, looking at her pointedly.

Lily chuckled at the mental image of him patting her head to put her to sleep. She shook her head and said, "No, I meant… could you just lie down with me for a while?"

Sirius stared at her, and she stared back. A few moments later, he sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, Evans. The things I do for Prongsie," he grumbled, striding over to the bed. "Scoot over—and get rid of this damn thing. It's freaking me out."

Lily grinned as she pushed the body pillow over the side of the bed. It fell off with a soft thump, and Lily quickly shuffled over to the right side of the bed. Sirius narrowed his eyes at her, but he muttered an expletive before he gingerly climbed in beside her.

When Lily wrapped her arm around his waist, Sirius squeaked out, "What are you doing?"

"I always cuddle with James," Lily said, blinking up at him innocently. "I can't sleep if I don't cuddle him."

Sirius groaned and ran his hand down his face. "You're lucky I'm gay, Evans. Otherwise, this would be even more awkward than it is."

Lily's shoulders trembled with laughter as she slid down, wrapping her arm tighter around Sirius' waist. His hand came to rest on her hip, and he muttered, "This feels weird. You're too small. And weirdly proportioned."

Lily smacked his hip, making him cry out in mock pain. "Shut up, Sirius. Just because you want Remus to be here instead of me—"

"That would be lovely, yes," Sirius interrupted her smoothly.

Lily slapped his hip again, this time with more force. "—that doesn't mean you can insult my womanly curves."

"Womanly curves," Sirius said and burst into loud guffaws, the sound echoing throughout the small bedroom. "You're as thin as a stick, Evans! What curves? Moony's got more curves than you!"

Lily grumbled something unintelligible, and Sirius chuckled, patting her hip again. "Go to sleep, Evans."

Lily was quiet for a few moments, her mood slightly lightened. Lily absentmindedly traced circles on his waist. "Sirius?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you," Lily whispered. Sirius didn't reply, only squeezing her hip awkwardly, but it was enough for her. She closed her eyes and, listening to Sirius' steady heartbeat, fell asleep.

When James entered the bedroom, exhausted from the raid, he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight in front of him.

Lily lay curled up against Sirius, her arms wrapped firmly around his waist, her red hair tied up in a messy bun. She looked so comfortable sleeping beside Sirius, who lay as stiff as a board, that it made James' lips twitch. Merlin, I wish I had a camera.

Still, just to mess around with his best friend, James asked, "What are you doing with my girl?"

"I'm not doing anything," Sirius said, his tone defensive. He quickly put his hands up, and Lily hummed as she snuggled closer to him, a soft smile on her face. At James' pointed look, Sirius muttered, "Evans wanted to cuddle with you."

James couldn't help but grin at the answer. His chest filled with delight, and he made his way towards the bed. He whipped off his robes and was unbuttoning his shirt when Sirius let out an annoyed hiss.

"What?" James asked, pausing and looking down at Sirius.

"Stop stripping in front of me, Prongs," Sirius whisper-yelled, glaring up at him. "And do something about your girl. My arm's falling asleep!"

"Use the hug-and-roll technique," James suggested, snickering under his breath.

"What?"

"Watch this," James said, picking the body pillow off the ground. "So you just hug her"—James hugged the pillow—"and roll her over to her side of the bed. And then you... roll away."

Sirius pursed his lips and nodded slowly.

James hugged the pillow again for emphasis. "Hug for her," he said, hugging the pillow again, "roll for you."

"I get it," Sirius whisper-yelled, a scowl on his face. He cautiously wrapped his arms around Lily's waist before rolling her over to the other side of the bed.

James watched, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, as Lily's hold got tighter with the move. Sirius flailed around, trying to pull himself away without waking Lily, and an accidental snicker escaped James' lips. He quickly covered his mouth with his hands.

Sirius shot him an annoyed glare over his shoulder. "Help me, Prongs," he hissed.

James put his finger up to indicate he needed a moment, and before Sirius could say something, James hurried out the door and into the hallway.

Once outside, he finally let his laughter reign free, the sound echoing through the narrow hallway. James knew Sirius was probably swearing at him inside, so he went to save his best friend from Lily's death-like grip.

James loved it when she cuddled against him, but occasionally, he had to admit—only to himself—that he needed some space. That was why he had come up with the hug-and-roll technique.

When James entered the room again, Sirius scowled at him and whisper-yelled, "I'm going to kill you… as soon as I get some feeling back in my arms."

James grinned and climbed onto the bed behind Sirius, the bed softly creaking under their combined weight. "If you stop complaining, I'll tell you about the switching technique."

"I know this one," Sirius hissed, flexing his arms as he readied himself to pull away. "Get behind me, you flimsy artichoke."

James snickered at the insult but bent over Sirius' back, thinking about what Remus would have said if he'd seen their current position. He took Lily's hands and tugged her fingers free. He nudged Sirius with his chin and whispered, "On your mark…"

"This isn't a bloody race, Prongs," Sirius whispered back. James knew—even without looking at him—that Sirius was rolling his eyes.

"You're such a killjoy when you're tired," James grumbled. Before Sirius could come up with a retort, James said, "Okay, one, two, three! Go!"

Sirius yanked himself away, and James smoothly slid into her arms instead. Sirius rolled off the bed and stood upright, windmilling his arms around his head.

"I'm free! Sweet mother of monkey milk! I'm free!" Sirius cried out. When James quickly shushed him, not wanting to wake Lily up, Sirius cackled wildly as he ran out the door, yelling, "I'm free!"

Lily shifted in James' arms, humming softly. James looked down at her, his heart racing at finally being in her arms again. Just then, her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"James?" she whispered, trying to sit up.

James quickly hushed her and pulled her back down. "Shh, go back to sleep, love. I'm here."

"I missed you," she whispered, her breathing going back to normal as she closed her eyes again.

James let out a soft sigh and pressed his lips to the top of her head. "I missed you, too."

It wasn't a lie. He had spent half his mission worrying about Lily and the rest dodging spells and curses.

When Lily wrapped her arms tighter around him, James' lips turned up in a loving smile, and he pressed his nose in her hair, inhaling her soft, feminine scent; he loved it when she used that rose-scented shampoo his mother had gifted her. He knew she didn't like it, but because he loved the smell of roses, she used it for him. There was no way he could ever say she wasn't thoughtful.

"Don't leave me again," she mumbled weakly, her voice muffled in his chest.

James' smile widened at her words, his heart overflowing with love. Even though he knew she was still half-asleep, he couldn't help but say, "I won't… if you marry me."

Silence.

James wondered if he'd just made a mistake, but then…

"Okay," Lily whispered, her eyes still closed. James looked down at her and saw a small smile playing on her lips.

Did she just...

"Okay?" James couldn't believe his ears. His heart began to race as he pondered what she could possibly mean by her acceptance. Did she mean she wanted to marry him? Now? Later? Ten years down the line?

"Okay," she murmured, tightening her hold on James. She snuggled closer, resting her head on James' collarbone. "Now, go to sleep."

"Okay," James breathed out, silently promising himself to repeat his question the next morning. And possibly every morning after that, just to make sure the answer was still the same. He'd also need to ask Sirius to go ring-shopping with him.

For now, though… James dropped another kiss onto her head and closed his eyes.